23th October 2009
End of harvest : first impressions about vintage 2009
We began with the Marsanne on the 10th September, about the same moment as last year. This plot was showing a bit stressed by the lack of water as the grapes were beginning to dry. On the contrary, the skins had got very thin proving good maturity and the result is delicious.

The Roussanne which is located in a not so dry area had not suffered at all. So we harvested it 10 days later right at the end of its evolution toward perfect maturity; it reveals fantastic aromas.
The white Grenache were ready on the 30th September and we have picked them, again, in excellent conditions. They give us all the fruit and volume we need for the future blend of the wine.

The Syrah got ripe at the same moment. Skins were very thin and tender, pips very brown, the grapes slackened off. This is just the right balance. Many thanks indeed to the weather which allowed us to plan everything step by step. We picked them during three days, which allowed us to work individually on every plot in different vats with a lot of care. Colours are fantastic, aromas are explosive. Structure will come afterwards during the nursing, but it's very promising.

Thunderstorm with 30 mm of rain, that, fortunately, didn't damage anything. Soils were so dry that they have absorbed all the water; there wasn't enough for it to intervene in the maturation process of the remaining grapes.

Black Grenache got ripe, with skins finally thin, from the 10th of October. It gives the best of itself this year. The white Bourboulenc came along, with its nice reddish colour that is so characteristic when it's ready. So late Bourboulenc!

Then finally the Mourvèdre decided to say hello... on the 23rd, we thought they would never get matured! We had to evaluate risk between optimal maturity and weather forecast and the hydric situation of each plot, to get the most out of this noble -but capricious- variety.

You get it, this vintage is extraordinary. It is sincerely the best that we have ever made at Château d'Anglès. It's delicious to talk about each variety, even better to taste the vats, wine is so good already, even so young.
But we have to wait a year or two, according to the cuvée, for the wines to be perfect, ready to bottle.

To the wise...

Must of Syrah

10th September 2009
First day of harvest!
The harvest began early in the morning of yesterday 10th of September this vintage 2009. It's a little bit later than years before, we've had time to wait for the best maturity. We pick early in the morning so the outside temperature is cool: around 15°c. It's important the temperature remains cool not to burn the delicate flavours the white grapes can offer. Preserving the aromas of the juice makes a more tasty wine, with more finesse and more complexity.
First impression of vintage 2009: a little bit more volume than 2007 or 2008 which were very dry years (we've had good rainfalls during the winter this year) and the juice is more tasty at the same time. This is due to a near perfect maturing season: we've had no rainfall since May. Sun for maturity, freshness of the see breeze for balance, in 2009 we've had all the ingredients for a marvelous vintage.
We can't wait to see the quality of the other grapes which is very promising. But we have to wait for best maturity until end of October for the Bourboulenc and Mourvèdre... and as we usually say: no definitive opinion until everything is in the cellar, you never know what can happen!

The white juice is gravity-fed into a concrete vat.

21st July 2009
Verraison: first grapes turning red
This is one of the first grapes turning red at Château d'Anglès, from a plot of syrah located in the upper part of the estate. It's the right time for them to begin to mature until end of September when we will pick them.

18th June 2009
Quick tour of the last rewards
Guide Gault-Millau 2009
Our Favourite Estate: 'Smooth and seductive wines'

Guide Hachette 2009
'Fresh and round mouth... mineral... subtil noze... acacia flower... white peach'

La Revue du Vin de France (Guide des Vins à Petit Prix 2009)
'Eric Fabre is very carefuly making a beautiful white wine... full-bodied style'

Guide Gilbert & Gaillard 2009
'Full-bodied wine, harmonious, refined and persistant aromas. Beautiful bottle.'

Guide Bettane & Dessauve 2009
'The whites are among the best around. Research for maturity in the reds.'

Decanter World Wine Awards 2009
'Ambitious, rich apricot, deep, creamy mouthfeel with textured finish.'

14th May 2009
New Oorain Vintage
For the first time ever, maple sirup is joining wine to seduce your palate with a lightly sweet wine. Not fortified (incorporating alcohol), no addition of sugar, not a late harvest... It's a blend of two noble products: a beautiful syrah from Château d'Anglès and a high quality canadian maple sirup.
A charming sweet red wine, with aromas of date, fig, dry apricot, caramel and chocolat... with 13% Alc. only! A wine which is sweet, fresh and elegant, to match with foie-gras, curry, roquefort, tarte tatin... and according to your inspiration!

17th April 2009
Bottling session
Vincent is the son of Thierry the distributor who delivers our wines to some of the best restaurants in Paris. They came as a family to have a rest in the peaceful guesthouse of Château d'Anglès and Vincent drawed about life at the estate. This is his vision of the bottling: bottles getting fillied in and packed in cases. Thank you Vincent!

15th March 2009
We promised...
As we announced at the beginning of the year, the cryoceres are able to sleep peacefully! This is our 'Sustainable Farming' official certification. This shows we only use biodegredable sprays to protect our vines, and that we use them as less as we can. This is to respect our environement and reveal the maximum natural potential of our terroir.

15th February 2009
The wild bores are also happy
Another great virtu of a nature conservation area is the wild animals... In La Clape the wild boars are very happy, they find food in the mountain and water in the marsh. In between is our vineyard. So you can see what we call the "highways" of wild boars between the vineplants. This is the sixty-year-old bourboulenc parcel:

1st January 2009
Happy new year to the crioceres...
...and also to all the little bugs you will find in our vineyard.
Effectively Château d’Anglès is getting rid of insecticides from 2009 on.
Every year we get closer to nature, and it’s rewarding with great comments about the wines.
2009 will also see our efforts certified by an official label for sustainable practices concerning not only
culture but also vinification and marketing; stay tuned.
And happy new year to you as well!

:: See the news of year 2008... ::
:: See the news of year 2007... ::
:: See the news of year 2006... ::
:: See the news of year 2005... ::